Jarryn Geary to captain St Kilda in 2019, Dan Hannebery joins leadership group

Dan Hannebery won’t be taking any shortcuts to be ready for Round 1 as he manages his “hamstring awareness” as he admits his surprise in being elevated to the Saints’ leadership group.

Dan Hannebery poses during a St Kilda Saints AFL Media Opportunity.

Dan Hannebery is adamant he remains on track to play in Round 1 but won’t be taking any shortcuts to get there.

The Saints’ star recruit has been suffering “hamstring awareness”, which he described as tightness and discomfort that needed time and conditioning to get right.

It’s “not too bad”, he said, with the complaint having lingered since Christmas but he won’t be rushed in his recovery, a trap he conceded he had fallen into in the past.

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“I’ve done a pretty solid block of running now and I think I’ll just keep trying to build the k’s up rather than rushing it,” Hannebery said today.

“Being this time of the year and a long year ... in the past, at different stages I’ve probably rushed things and the club are taking the approach of being really cautious and making sure I get a certain amount of conditioning and leg weights and all that sort of stuff in.

“I think it’s the right call to do, especially with Round 1 still five or six weeks away.”

Dan Hannebery has a laugh at St Kilda training. Picture: Ian Currie

The club is hopeful the midfielder could play in one of its pre-season clashes, with the former Swan confident he will play against Gold Coast in Round 1.

“At this stage I’m confident I’ll be right. Having said that, though, it’s not about shortcutting sessions or running sessions to be right for Round 1,” he said.

“There’s 23 rounds in the year and in previous years, people get pretty caught up in Round 1 and making sure they rush to get right.

“I’m pretty confident I will be, but I won’t be missing sessions. If that means I come up short then I come up short, but at this stage I’m confident I’ll be right for Round 1.”

Hannebery, who was traded to the Saints at the end of last season, admitted his inclusion in the team’s five-man leadership group had been a surprise.

“I was a bit surprised, to be honest initially,” he said.

“I thought I just wanted to come here and try and do my best to train hard and set a good example in that regard.

“But it was certainly something that I’m pretty humbled by and excited and looking forward to leading the group this year.”

St Kilda’s star recruit Dan Hannebery.

Jarryn Geary will captain the Saints for the third season in 2019.

Jarryn Geary will captain the team for a third season and he had been “inspired” to take the reins again after the Saints’ “aberration” 2018.

“It was an ordinary year and it wouldn’t have been something that I wanted to leave to someone else and just say ‘it’s your responsibility’,” he said.

“It’s something I want to do something about ... it’s a bit of a challenge that I want to take on and do something about what we dished up last year.”

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson praised Geary as one of the best leaders he has seen.

The club has made two changes to its leadership group from last year, with Hannebery and Tim Membrey replacing Jack Steven and Jack Newnes.

St Kilda didn’t have a vice-captain last season but Seb Ross has been promoted to the role for 2019 while Dylan Roberton retains his position in the group as he makes his comeback from a serious heart issue.

Introducing our new-look leadership group for 2019! 💥

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) February 13, 2019

Hannebery has impressed with his vocal and passionate approach to training since joining the Saints from Sydney in last year’s trade period.

“Dan ... is an extremely experienced leader who has had immediate impact since joining us late last year,” coach Alan Richardson said.

“Having a player with such strong football knowledge, who is also so generous in the time he gives to his teammates, is a real asset to the football club.”

Geary is one of the most understated captains in the AFL but Richardson said he commanded respect from his teammates.

“He is able to be really challenging of the group and at the same time be very supportive of his teammates.

“I haven’t seen any player in my time in coaching who so regularly sacrifices himself for the team.

“On game day, and at training he sets the standard for the way in which we want to play and train.

“We’ve brought in a lot of experienced coaches to our football department, and one of the most consistent early impressions has been how strong a leader he is.”

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